Andrew
01-07-2008, 10:41 AM
Monterey Bay Aquarium NEWS RELEASE
THE VOTES ARE IN – ‘SHANI’ IS THE NAME OF AQUARIUM’S FRESHWATER OTTER PUP
“Shani” is the name for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s newest resident, thanks to over 5,000 votes cast online by folks who helped name the 3-month-old female African spotted-necked otter pup. Visitors can see Shani and mom Kamili in the aquarium’s Wild About Otters special exhibition.
“Shani,” (SHAH-NEE) which means “curiosity” or “adventure,” earned 62 percent of the total online votes, followed by Nukta, (NEWK-TA) which means “dot,” with 25 percent, and Ziwa, (ZEE-WAH) which means “lake” or “pond,” with 13 percent. All three names are Swahili, the language spoken in the native sub-Saharan habitats of wild African spotted-necked otters.
The aquarium announced the pup’s birth and the naming contest on Dec. 18. People voted online at the aquarium’s web site (www.montereybayaquarium.org) until December 31. A total of 5,083 votes were tallied during the nearly two-week period.
Shani was born on September 27, 2007 behind-the-scenes at the Wild About Otters exhibit. The pup is the third African spotted-necked otter born at the aquarium. Two other female pups – Kazana (KAH-ZAH-NAH) and Ajabu (AH-JAH-BOO), were born to parents Neema (NEE-MAH) and Denny (DEN-EE) on Nov. 3, 2006.
Shani has quickly picked up her mother’s playfulness with visitors. Now both she and Kamili play “chase” with visitors and swim alongside them at the window of their exhibit. Kamili and the pup are separated from dad Kipenzi (KIP-EN-ZEE), who has been moved behind the scenes and will join the family again sometime within the next few months. In the wild, females typically do most of the pup rearing, with a normal litter consisting of one to three pups.
Wild About Otters is scheduled to run into 2010. The exhibit highlights how freshwater otters – just like the popular sea otters at the aquarium, and people around the world – need clean water to thrive and survive. Currently featured are six African spotted-necked otters and four Asian small-clawed otters, along with remarkable tropical fishes, reptiles and plants that share the otters’ lush natural habitats. Actor and wildlife conservation advocate John Cleese narrates high-definition video clips in the exhibit, sharing conservation messages about the connections that link lakes, rivers and oceans.
The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.
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THE VOTES ARE IN – ‘SHANI’ IS THE NAME OF AQUARIUM’S FRESHWATER OTTER PUP
“Shani” is the name for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s newest resident, thanks to over 5,000 votes cast online by folks who helped name the 3-month-old female African spotted-necked otter pup. Visitors can see Shani and mom Kamili in the aquarium’s Wild About Otters special exhibition.
“Shani,” (SHAH-NEE) which means “curiosity” or “adventure,” earned 62 percent of the total online votes, followed by Nukta, (NEWK-TA) which means “dot,” with 25 percent, and Ziwa, (ZEE-WAH) which means “lake” or “pond,” with 13 percent. All three names are Swahili, the language spoken in the native sub-Saharan habitats of wild African spotted-necked otters.
The aquarium announced the pup’s birth and the naming contest on Dec. 18. People voted online at the aquarium’s web site (www.montereybayaquarium.org) until December 31. A total of 5,083 votes were tallied during the nearly two-week period.
Shani was born on September 27, 2007 behind-the-scenes at the Wild About Otters exhibit. The pup is the third African spotted-necked otter born at the aquarium. Two other female pups – Kazana (KAH-ZAH-NAH) and Ajabu (AH-JAH-BOO), were born to parents Neema (NEE-MAH) and Denny (DEN-EE) on Nov. 3, 2006.
Shani has quickly picked up her mother’s playfulness with visitors. Now both she and Kamili play “chase” with visitors and swim alongside them at the window of their exhibit. Kamili and the pup are separated from dad Kipenzi (KIP-EN-ZEE), who has been moved behind the scenes and will join the family again sometime within the next few months. In the wild, females typically do most of the pup rearing, with a normal litter consisting of one to three pups.
Wild About Otters is scheduled to run into 2010. The exhibit highlights how freshwater otters – just like the popular sea otters at the aquarium, and people around the world – need clean water to thrive and survive. Currently featured are six African spotted-necked otters and four Asian small-clawed otters, along with remarkable tropical fishes, reptiles and plants that share the otters’ lush natural habitats. Actor and wildlife conservation advocate John Cleese narrates high-definition video clips in the exhibit, sharing conservation messages about the connections that link lakes, rivers and oceans.
The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.
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